Bolometer operating at the threshold for circuit quantum electrodynamics

Area of Science:

• Quantum Technology
• Sensor Development
• Materials Science

Background:

• Thermal sensors are vital for applications like gas detection and security.
• Emerging quantum technologies, particularly circuit quantum electrodynamics, require highly sensitive and fast detectors.
• Existing thermal sensors have not met the stringent time constant and energy resolution requirements for circuit quantum electrodynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally demonstrate a bolometer capable of meeting the threshold for circuit quantum electrodynamics.
• To develop a thermal sensor with a time constant of a few hundred nanoseconds and an energy resolution of approximately 10 Planck constants (h).
• To leverage novel materials for enhanced bolometer performance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a graphene monolayer with extremely low specific heat as the active material for the bolometer.
• Directly measured the noise-equivalent power and thermal time constant on the same device.
• Characterized the calorimetric energy resolution based on experimental data.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a bolometer operating at the circuit quantum electrodynamics threshold.
• Achieved a noise-equivalent power of 30 zeptowatts per square-root hertz.
• Obtained a thermal time constant of 500 nanoseconds, two orders of magnitude shorter than previous limitations, with a minimum observed time constant of 200 nanoseconds.
• Determined a calorimetric energy resolution of 30 Planck constants (h).

Conclusions:

• The developed graphene bolometer meets the critical performance thresholds for circuit quantum electrodynamics applications.
• The sensor's fast response time and high energy resolution enable integration with superconducting qubits and readout schemes.
• This advancement paves the way for enhanced quantum computing and sensing.